Sasha Alexander is headed to Showtime.

The popular Rizzoli & Isles star will appear on multiple episodes of Shameless Season 5, network sources have confirmed.

She'll come on board the series as a confident and erudite college professor named Helene. Lip will be one of her students and Helene will possess a wild side, which should be a welcome change for Alexander in comparison to her role as Dr. Maura Isles.

The actress will begin shooting her guest stint next week.

Shameless Season 5 will premiere in early 2015 and will also include Dermot Mulroney in a major arc.

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.